Beep!
The short timeout quickly ended, and both teams' players reappeared on the court.
Now, neither team was playing their usual game. The Celtics abandoned their advantage in half-court offense and switched to fast breaks.
The Cavaliers, on the other hand, were playing a more methodical game, only controlling the ball and looking for opportunities when they had a clear advantage.
Both teams felt somewhat out of sorts.
"Tang, I feel like we're having trouble playing to our strengths right now."
With the slowed pace, whenever LeBron James had the ball, the Celtics would come up and defend him closely. If he couldn't drive, he had to resort to pull-up jumpers.
It was fine if his shot was good, but after missing twice in a row at the start, LeBron was reluctant to keep shooting like this.
In crucial games like this, wasted opportunities could lead to punishment.
"I'm in a similar situation."
Tang Long was much like LeBron. He was also being defended closely by Celtics players.
Perkins was like a shadow, sticking to him. As soon as the ball came to him, another player would come to help defend.
The intensity of the playoffs, coupled with the opponent fighting with everything they had, made it difficult for Tang Long to get an easy shot when he had the ball.
"Larry, Drew, you guys need to move more!"
If others didn't create open looks, a static offense could easily be targeted.
"But Coach Brown..."
Larry Hughes stopped himself, but his meaning was clear. If they started running, the pace would pick up again, which was clearly not what Mike Brown had emphasized.
Moreover, everyone could feel the Celtics' desperate intensity in this game, making them somewhat hesitant!
"As long as our offense can get through."
Larry Hughes glanced in Mike Brown's direction. "Alright then."
The Cavaliers initiated their offense again. Larry Hughes brought the ball past half-court, slowed down, and passed the ball to LeBron at the three-point line.
LeBron tried to drive, and Paul Pierce maintained a half-step distance, his outstretched arm ready to steal the ball at any moment.
LeBron faked a change of direction, then a pump fake. As he made Pierce retreat, he shot the basketball!
"Damn it..."
Pierce couldn't help but curse.
He had expected LeBron to take a pull-up jumper as he had before. Instead, LeBron had only faked, and Pierce had already jumped.
No choice. Fortunately, the game had just started, and this foul didn't result in free throws.
After the ensuing inbound, LeBron tried the same old routine. This time, Pierce had learned his lesson and focused on LeBron's shoulders.
As LeBron's shoulders began to shake significantly, Pierce moved to attack.
But as soon as Pierce rushed forward, LeBron passed the ball back to Larry Hughes.
Fuck!
Pierce hadn't expected LeBron to pass the ball instead of shooting himself.
Larry Hughes received the ball and drove quickly to the baseline. Drew Gooden and Tang Long positioned themselves near the basket on either side, forcing Perkins and Garnett to split their defense!
Tang Long received a pass from Larry Hughes and backed down Garnett, shooting a fadeaway jumper.
Garnett, with a standing reach of 3.83 meters, jumped with his arms outstretched, blocking out the sky!
"Oh my God."
The commentators exclaimed in awe, and even the fans gasped.
It had been a long time since they had seen Garnett play with such ferocity.
That block was truly awe-inspiring!
But just as everyone expected to hear the solid sound of a massive block, Tang Long slipped through Garnett's armpit like a slippery loach.
[Super High-Speed Dribble]
One of Daiki Aomine's signature moves!
Garnett felt like a flexible python winding around him. Immediately after, he saw a spectacular tomahawk dunk!
Tang Long, at an angle, slammed the ball directly into the basket!
"Tang!"
Cavaliers fans rose to their feet and cheered.
Tang Long slapped his chest, interacting with the cheers of the fans.
"That dunk was absolutely spectacular. We saw Garnett practically block Tang's passing lane, but Tang not only skillfully maneuvered around him but also finished with a tomahawk dunk!"
"This is undoubtedly the most spectacular play of the playoffs this year! No, of the entire season, without exception."
After a spectacular play, the Cavaliers retreated quickly, their offense as fast as their defense.
Paul Pierce hit a two-pointer. On the Cavaliers' side, Drew Gooden set a screen for Tang Long. Tang Long jumped from inside the three-point line, close to his defender.
He also made a two-pointer.
"Zhang Guidance, have you noticed that Tang Long doesn't seem to be going to the basket anymore?"
In the broadcast booth, Yang Yi and Zhang Guidance were a bit bewildered.
Throughout the season, Tang Long's scoring had primarily come from under the basket or in the post area. He rarely appeared in other spots. As for those few three-point attempts, they were purely for fun!
But now that Tang Long wasn't going to the basket, he seemed to have transformed into a power forward, almost like another LeBron. The Cavaliers' dual-core had truly become a dual-guard threat!
"His current position is more like a mobile power forward, and his offensive moves in recent possessions have also been characteristic of a power forward."
Zhang Guidance could usually rationalize everything, but now he seemed unsure how to describe Tang Long's offense.
"In that last play, in the past, Tang Long would definitely have passed back to Gooden or LeBron. The Celtics players clearly thought the same. But who would have expected that Tang Long wouldn't pass, but instead drove to the basket and scored while both teams were stunned!"
"His speed, strength, and offensive style, if you hadn't watched Tang Long for a whole season, anyone would believe he wasn't a center but an excellent power forward."
"Zhang Guidance, have you ever seen a player who could play both center and power forward?"
Yang Yi paused, then added, "I mean, at a star level for both positions?"
"Come to think of it, no, there haven't been."
Zhang Guidance pondered for a moment. "Take LeBron, for instance. He can play small forward or power forward, and he's absolutely top-tier in both. But as for playing center, it's still unknown if he'd even be passable, as the demands and awareness for each position are different."
Zhang Guidance himself was starting to get confused.
If Tang Long could play both positions so exceptionally well, then with Yao Ming as a strong center in the national team, and Tang Long playing power forward, the national team would also have a dual-core inside!
Against Team USA's Dream Team VIII, even if other positions were slightly weaker, they would have a fighting chance against other traditional powerhouses, and it wouldn't be impossible to win!
Yang Yi and Zhang Guidance exchanged glances, guessing each other's thoughts from their eyes.
"Let's get back to this game!"
Yang Yi reacted quickly. After a few seconds of silence, he hastily asked, "If the Cavaliers play a dual-guard strategy, do you think they can win this game, Zhang Guidance?"
"I personally think it won't be a problem, because I believe in the magical combination of Tang Long and LeBron!"